Electric water heater



L. E. WALTHER ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed June 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Shaw's l ivll V R 1 i, w\ 5 a w\\\ J 4 w |V .w W R w M w w 5 M a W T cm a p ii i m 0 ,I i?! J 4 g m m. f o 9. e 2 m f m. V m

Aug. 3, 1943.

WALTHER ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed June 9, 1941 2 Sheets-$heet 2 a y INVENTOR: Lima AMA WAL THEQ,

ATTORNEY ratcntea Aug. 6, 1943 2,325,722 ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Lucian E. Walther, Del Mar, Calm, assignor of one-half to Albert Crane, Hollywood, Calif;

Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,267

This invention relates to water heaters, and more particularly to heaters in which the water is heated by the passage of current therethrough.

Water heaters 01 the type commonly known in the trade as instant water heaters, are intended to heat the water as it passes through the heater, whence it is discharged directly to the point of use, without the intermediacy of a storage tank. These heaters are intended to operate only when water is flowing through them, and, inasmuch as the rate 01 heat transfer is, in consequence, quite high, it is necessary, for the sake of safety, that they be provided with means to prevent the generation of heat during periods or no flow. Heaters of this type must also be provided with means to prevent the generation oi steam, to protect the apparatus and also to avoid danger or scalds and burns to users 'of the apparatus. To the same end, it is also desirable to provide means which will cause the device to discontinue the application. 01 heat immediately upon generation of steam, independently oi the rate 01' flow, ii through some mishap, steam is generated at a rate orilow which normally would not cause such generation.

Water heaters involving electrodes immersed in the water being heated give rise to a number of problems because of the electrolytic action of the current flowing through the water, and it is therefore essential to protect the metallic parts or the apparatus from the electrolytic action of the current. Another problem arising in the operation oi heaters of this type is the maintenance oi efficiency at a reasonable value. At the same time, it is desirable to providea device which maintains a satisfactory outlet temperature over a considerable range 01 flow.

With the above considerations in mind, it is an object or the present invention to provide an electrical water heater which will not permit the generation of steam.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical water heater which will shut olf automatically upon generation of steam in the heating chamber.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device which will utilize electrical energy flowing through the water without endangering the equipment by electrolytic action.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water heater of the type described which will have a satisfactory range of delivery temperatures regardless of the rate of flow.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water heater which will introduce 11 Claims. (01. 219-39) heating chamber.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water heater which can be adjusted after installation to deliver water at a predetermined temperature.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water heater which will automatically shut oil the heat upon reaching a minimum delivery, and will not again operate until the flow has been increased beyond that minimum.

It is a further object oi this invention to provide a heater which will not cause water hammer.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part 01 the present specification. This i'orm will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a device embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section 2-2 01 Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section, similar to portions of Figure 1 showing the parts in a different position of operation; and,

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

The shown device comprises a pair of intercommunicating chambers l0 and l I, the chamher In containing flow and pressure actuated mechanism which in turn controls by a switch or rheostat the supply of current to heating electrodes I3 and It contained in the chamber H. As best seen from Figure 1, fluid enters the chamber H! from the water supply pipe 8, passes therefrom through the passage 15 to the chamber H, where it is heated by passage of current through the water as the water flows between the electrodes. The heated water is thence delivered through the pipe 9 to the point of utilization.

Within the'chamber I0 is a piston l6, mounted for reciprocating movement, said piston being provided with a packing ring H to establish a seal with the walls of the chamber it. As will be noted in Figure l, the piston, in its lowermost position, rests on an annular seat at the bottom of the chamber, between the inlet 8a and the taken on line outlet mouth iii, and water cannot flow through the chamber it without raising the piston. A spring l8, extending between the top of the chamber iii and the upper surface of the piston I6 forces the piston l6 downwardly, but permits upward movement of the piston when water flows through the heater.

The outlet mouth it of the passage i5 is preferably in the form of an inverted triangle. With this shape, the upward movement of piston IE to permit flow through the passage l5 will result in a gradual opening of the passage. This, and the gradual closing which accompanies downward movement of the piston, prevents the piston from causing a water hammer, which would be destructive to the equipment.

The movement of the piston i6 is used to actuate a valve on the piston itself, and also to turn on and on an electric switch which is connected in the heating circuit. The mechanism for accomplishing these results comprises a series of ports is extending through the piston, a valve disc 29, and a switch actuating rod 2i connected to the valve disc. The ports permit flow between the two chambers defined in the chamber It by the piston, and the disc 26 is mounted on the rod 26 to cover the ports IS. The rod ii is mounted for limited axial movement on the piston it to permit the disc 2b to lift from the ports i9, and a retaining ring 22 is mounted on its lower end to cause the rod 2! to follow the piston when it moves downwardly. This rod 2i extends through a conventional stumng box 23, and actuates a mercury switch 2 3 (or rheostat) to close the heating circuit when the piston is in the position shown in Figure 1, and to open the circuit when the piston is in the position shown in Figure 3. Within the spring I8 is a smaller spring it, intended 'to engage the disc 20 and the lower side of the stuffing box 23 when the piston is in the position shown in Figure 3.

The operation of the switch control mechanism should now be clear. Assuming that there is a clear passage from the outlet mouth it to the faucet to be supplied with hot water, opening of the faucet in the line 9 causes a reduction in pressure in the upper part of the chamber 10 as the water flows through the passage I5. The pressure from the supply pipe 8 immediately forces the piston it upwardly against the tension of the spring it. When the packing ll of the piston it passes the lower portion of the outlet mouth it of the passage i5, water can flow from the chamber beneath the piston throu h the passage i5 and thence past the heating elements it and i i to the faucet. The piston It, however, continues to move upwardly until it reaches the position shown in Figure 3. In this position, the disc 2@ will be engaged by the spring i8, which holds the disc against the piston and thus closes the ports ill. The switch 26 is so arranged that it closes the heating circuit immediately after the piston unmasks the lower portion of the mouth it of the passage i5.

If the faucet then be closed, the momentary increase in pressure in the lower part of the chamber i 9 will cause a slight relative movement between the piston I6 and the valve disc 20, permitting the fluid to flow through the piston ports Hi. When this happens, the pressures above and below the piston become equalized and the spring 56 can then force the piston downwardly. Upon downward movement of the piston, the switch 241 will be opened. Thisdownward movement also occurs in the event that steam is generated in the heating chamber I l and causes a momentary increase in the pressure in the lower part of the chamber I0. When the piston moves downwardly, it will pull the rod 2| down with it by means of its retaining ring 22 thus leaving the ports l9 open. There can thus be a limited flow through the ports 19 without closing the switch 24, but as soon as this flow reaches a certain value, the pressure on the lower side of piston IE will lift it against the disc 20 and close the ports [9. When this occurs, the continued flow of the water will lift the piston I6 and cause the above described cycle of operations to take place.

The erratic pressure which is often present in the line, and possibly generated by the water passing through the heating unit, introduces a fluttering in the piston rod, producing an uneven action of the switch or control 24. For this reason, a very small opening 38 is provided between the passage l5 and the upper part of the chamher in. This opening, which is smaller in crosssection than any other opening in the system, has a steadying effect on the piston when it is in its uppermost position, but does not affect the action of the device as a whole under major changes of pressure generated by the opening or closing of the faucet or the generation of steam in the heating unit.

As was mentioned before, the chamber II contains electrodes l3 and H for causing passage of current through the water being heated. This chamber has been arranged to promote a swirling and turbulent flow in the water passing between the electrodes and to protect the metal of which the chamber is made from electrolysis. This turbulence may be promoted by any suitable means, but in the present instance is promoted by providing a. comparatively restricted helical path for the water passing between the electrodes, which is done by providing helical grooves in the adjacent surfaces of the electrodes themselves.

These electrodes are in the form of two cylindrical members manufactured of graphite, carbon or other suitable conducting material. If desired, they may take the form of a resistance coil, provided with a passage as described. They are shown as being concentrically mounted, the outer electrode i3 and the inner electrode I4 defining a restricted passage 32 between the electrodes. The outer surface of the inner electrode i4 is provided with helical grooves 34 and the inner surface of the outer electrode [3 is provided with similar helical grooves 33. It can be readily seen that water flowing in an upward direction through the space 32 will be given a rotary motion in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2. This rotary or swirling motion has several important advantages. For example, it causes the water to pass to all sides of the electrodes. If, through accident or otherwise, the electrodes are not concentric, it is most desirable to provide a means which will insure that the water passing up the side on which the electrodes are farther apart will also pass through the side in which the electrodes are closer together, to prevent the development of intense local heating in spots. Also, this swirling action causes more intimate contact between the electrodes and the liquid, and causes a greater rate of heat transfer per unit of electrode area. The ultimate result is the decrease in the size of electrodes needed for a given capacity.

In order to further promote this rotary motion, the passage I5 is made more or less tanthis edit" gential to the inner surface of th chamber l I, and its mouth is restricted compared to the rest of the passage. The mouth 35 therefore acts as a nozzle, and introduces the Water to the chamber ii high velocity and with a large circular component of motion.

In order to prevent, as much as possible,the electrolytic octioh shove referred to, the clriarh-= her i i is fashioned with insulating material, such as rubber, or other suitable meteriel, forming its major interior surfaces. This rubber lining" also forms the supporting means for the electrodes themselves insulates them from each other. A. rubher bushing covers the bottom of the chamber it end extends upwardly therefrom. This bushing central hore 36a for conducting the water, discharged from the heating passage 32 through the openings 31, to the pipe leading to the point oi use. A rubber sleeve 39 covers e, major portion of the side walls of the chamber ii, terminating" above the discharge mouth of passage 55. The sleeve 39 and the bushing 36 are formed to closely fit the exterior surface oi the outer electrode and the inner surface or? the inner electrode respectively, to hold them firmly spaced.

In order to support the electrodes, they are mounted on metallic rings, the outer electrode being mounted in the ring as and the inner electrode being mounted around the ring 4|. These rings are provided with ears 42, which in turn are provided with studs 3. These studs extend upwardly through til which is screwed into the top of the chem 'lc'f i i thus forming terminals ior electriccl connections. The cap is filled with rubber, or other suitabl material, which extends from the rings to the top of the cap, and out through holes therein to surround the protrading" portions of the studs. This forms an insulation between the electrodes and the cap itself, and at the some time forms o, mechanical support for the rings and electrodes and prevents contect of water on the rings.

In order that the shove device function correctly when if" oiled, despite variations in the pressurev, the inlet and the length or pipe hettvee he outlet oi the apparatus and the faucet from. .ich wetter is drawn, it is necessary to provide an adjustment which will cause the piston it to when a certain predetermined volume oi hows through the heater. This could be d is ch. icing strength of the shrine iii, hut would be is very inconvenient imprec e1 way of errivihg at the correct 0.. the device. in the present instance m; he i achieved by installation of an edjus le velve tall in the passage i5. By adjustment of his i re, temperature of the water leavl g the device can be varied, so that mairiirlihn o oi th faucet will not cause the to drop too for. and at the some time this ve s col he utilised to change the point of :oilrlimwri how at which the piston ill will he drives upwardly by the water passing through the device. This, of course, is for the purpose of prevez the switch 2 from. being closed, hlie tlr through the heater is so small haul: t operuture would be raised suffiClQ-i L I to the i ormstioh of steam.

1" claim:

l. control responsive to the flow oi. fluid theret." comprising, e chamber hav ing an inlet outlet therein; a piston in said chamber mov position on one side 01' outlet hem the inlet outlet to a secondmentioned chamber n position on th other side of outlet, in which latter position fluid can flow ire-m the inlet through the chamber to outlet; 9, port through the piston; valve for closing the port in the piston, operative to open upor decrease in how through said chamber; and corzul oi. means responsive to the positioh of the stem.

2. A control device re of therethrough comprising, a chamber having an inlet and an outlet the r. piston fir). said. chamber movable from. o. position between said inlet and outlet on one side outlet to position on the other side i out et, in which latter position 5i i inlet through the chamher to outlet; port through the piston. comb oi actuating and valve means for sold com: o -ising s metre her adapted to cover rod extending irom sold piston erior said chamber; g force to drive said piston. to the .drstmie" wooed position.

waging I sold m $1 I"; i i. A

1 outlet the secondmentiohee. cohtroi means in the firstmentioned chamber .espohsive to the cessation of ilow of fluid through said t t e formation of host to of vapor thereto. to out ch is said secondmehtiohed ch cl.

5. A fluid heater com '7. chemhers; a passage interconnecting: 5 chambers;

ahinletinone the other of the secondmez mentioned che to said secondment 6. A fluid heeter l3 hers; e. passage an inlet in one or in the other 0' the second the first mention having" a valved poi" ing movable from and the mouth of other side of seic to movement of of heat to the said piston 7. A fluid he. hers; a passage inlet in one of so the other of said 0 second mention .drstmehtiohed z ing a valved port therethrough and movable in response to flow through the chambers from a position between said inlet and the mouth of the passage to a position on the other side of said mouth; spring means urging said piston toward the first-mentioned position; said valve being operative to open upon momentary increase of pressure in the chambers to thereby permit the piston to travel under the influence of said spring; and means connecting 'said piston to means cutting off the supply of heat to said second chamber while said piston is in the firstmentioned position.

8. A fluid heater comprising, a pair of chambars; a passage interconnecting said chambers; an inlet in one of said chambers and an outlet in the other of said chambers; a piston in one of said chambers adapted to mask the mouth of the passage during movement; said passage having the mouth in that chamber of triangular configuration, wherebyto prevent sudden increase in flow upon unmasking of said mouth.

9. A device for heating fluid electrically com-' prising; a chamber; a. removable closure therefor; a pair of concentric electrodes in said chamber; a pair of rings supporting said electrodes; a terminal connected to each of said rings and passing through said closure; and a body of insulating material surrounding said terminals and said rings and secured to said closure to thereby support and insulate them from each other.

10. An electrolytic heating device comprising a pair of hollow concentric cylindrical electrodes; a casing surrounding said electrodes; means insulating substantially all of the interior of said casing; an outlet from said casing; and an insulating sleeve having its inner bore communicating with said outlet, said sleeve extending through the opening of the inner electrode.

11. An electrolytic heating device comprising a pair of hollow concentric cylindricaLelectrodes; a casing surrounding said electrodes and having an outlet; a ring within the inner electrode and a ring about the outer electrode, terminals connected to each of said'rings; a body of insulating material surrounding said terminals and said rings to thereby support them and'insulate them from each other and the casing; means insulating substantially all of the interior of the casing; and

an insulating sleeve having its inner bore communicating with said outlet, said outlet extending through the opening oi" the inner electrode.

LUCIAN E. WALTHER. 

